How to Find Your Dream Homestead Land

Whether you're seeking homestead land in secluded rural areas or a lot with enough farmland for a garden, this advice will help you find the homestead land that’s just right for you.

By Dave Wortman

| April/May 2008

Finding the perfect homestead land takes planning, research and patience.

Photo by iStockphoto/Ann Taylor-Hughes

Imagine your ideal patch of Mother Earth. Perhaps it’s a place where the sky and farmland are vast, where the soil is fertile for growing your own food, the trees grow tall, and your neighbors offer genuine small-town friendliness. There’s little crime or traffic, and all you hear at night is the rush of wind through the trees.

Now, imagine that someone’s willing to give it to you — free.

That’s precisely what the town of Anderson, in central Alaska, did in March 2007, when they attempted to lure potential transplants by offering 26 free, spruce-covered building lots. And each 1.3-acre lot had its own view of beautiful natural surroundings. In return, all the newcomers had to do was agree to build a home and stay awhile — not a bad bargain for those looking to head back to the land. And according to Anderson’s city clerk, Nancy Hollis, the plan has been successful, drawing people from all walks of life. “So far, the new land owners are fitting into our community nicely,” she says. (The free lots are taken as of this printing.)

For some, finding dream homestead land means secluded rural acreage. But for others, an ideal homestead may be in a small town, where you might find less expensive housing and a lot large enough for a garden, some fruit trees and a few chickens — plus the benefits of nearby community amenities. There are some locations where you can still find your dream homestead land without breaking the bank. And with the fallout from the recent mortgage crisis, farmland prices — at least in some areas — are tumbling, offering an even better reason to jump into the game.

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Finding the perfect homestead land takes planning, research and patience.Photo by iStockphoto/Ann Taylor-Hughes

A rural lifestyle offers many benefits to children: room to play, a connection to the land, and experience with both wildlife and domesticated animals.Photo by iStockphoto/Naomi Bassitt

Finding productive land for a profitable farming venture can be more challenging than finding a homestead for personal use.Photo by Lynn Byczynski

If you see a farm you like, ask if it’s for sale. You might be surprised!Photo by iStockphoto/Yin Yang

The pace and amenities of small towns are significantly different than those in cities. Be sure you’re prepared prior to moving.Photo by Terry Wild

Although marginal soil can be improved over time, soil fertility is a big consideration if you’re planning to have a market garden.Photo by Lynn Byczynski

Navigating the Market

Anyone who has searched for affordable farmland near the nation’s major cities or in booming retirement and resort areas knows how challenging the process can be. Even some more remote rural areas, particularly in the fast-growing retirement and resort areas of the West, have experienced price spikes. “I am seeing land prices increase dramatically in southern Utah, northern Nevada, southern Idaho and eastern Oregon,” says John Allen, director of the Western Rural Development Center at Utah State University. And in many areas of high-cost states such as California, spiraling prices have put homestead land well out of reach for many buyers.

But the picture is far different in other parts of rural America, and for those looking for a quiet country life, opportunities abound. Between July 2005 and July 2006, the population of the nation’s rural areas as a whole grew by just 0.6 percent. In rural parts of the American Plains (stretching from Texas to the Dakotas, east through Indiana, and across poor counties in the Mississippi Delta) many areas have seen a steady decline of population since the early 1900s. In the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and North and South Dakota, 89 percent of the 2,421 cities and towns have fewer than 3,000 people — hundreds have fewer than 1,000 — and most have been hemorrhaging population for years. To turn the tide, local governments are often eager to entice newcomers to boost their tax base for schools and other essential services.

If you’re simply looking for a low-cost home, many of the same areas of the country where farmland is affordable offer good housing deals, too. “As recently as three years ago I was in northwestern Nebraska where you can buy a house in a small town for under $10,000,” says Steven Saltman of Land and Farm. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that home values in the Midwest and Deep South are among the most affordable in the country. While most economists don’t expect home prices to pick up until 2009, Dan Duffy, CEO of United Country Real Estate, the largest rural real estate company in the United States, says that rural homes remain a solid long-term investment. “Rural home values have steadily appreciated since the 1980s,” he says. “Rural homes tend to be less pricey and haven’t experienced a big run-up as we have seen in urban areas.”

Curtis Seltzer, a land consultant and author of How to be a Dirt Smart Buyer of Country Property, cautions buyers tempted by low cost or free homestead land that it may be cheap for good reasons. “Rural land is cheap where there are negatives such as difficult climate, ruined aesthetics from activities like mining, environmental problems such as drought or pollution, or chronic problems such as high unemployment,” says Seltzer.

Giveaways Galore

To turn the tide of population decline, many Midwestern towns have turned to drastic measures — such as land giveaways — that offer options that are hard to pass up. As of mid-2006, Hazelton, N.D.; Hendrum, Minn.; Chugwater, Wyo.; Kenesaw, Neb.; and 21 Kansas towns were offering free building lots to newcomers. (See “Resources,” below.) It’s an offer that many land seekers are taking. Most towns have been flooded with thousands of requests. By November 2006, 74 of the 80 free lots in Marquette, Kan., had been given away. The programs have appealed to a broad cross section of people, from young couples with children to retirees who have come from as far as California and Louisiana.

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If a free lot isn’t enough for you, consider that most of these towns also offer other incentives, such as property tax rebates over five to 10 years, building permit fee waivers, down payment assistance, complimentary memberships to local country clubs, and even help finding jobs.

Some rural banks are getting in on the game, too. In Iowa, Franklin County’s Hampton State Bank developed an innovative loan program to lure former residents back home. The program, called “Come Home to Franklin County,” gave former residents financial incentives (in the form of below market rate home and auto loans, free bank services and a free personal computer) to move back permanently, provided that person graduated from a Franklin County high school. In Kansas, lenders and bankers in Ellsworth County agreed to reduce required down payments for new homes by the value of the county’s free lots, plus they waived other fees.

Even federal elected officials from Midwest states are hoping to lure newcomers with enticements of land. Several legislators have banded together to co-sponsor a $30 billion “New Homestead Act.” If enacted, it would provide special tax credits for homebuyers and small business startups in rural America — and student loans would be partially repaid if a graduate settles in a declining area (see the current status of the bill).

Look Beyond the Listings

Even if you can’t find a free land deal that suits your needs, there are many ways to find affordable homestead land.

The first tip is to make your intentions known to as many people as possible, says Gene GeRue, author of How to Find Your Ideal Country Home. “Land seekers should contact realtors, banks, lawyers, insurance brokers, appraisers, tax collectors and auctioneers for leads on stressed properties.” If you spot a piece of land you like, find the owner and ask if it’s for sale. They might be more willing to sell than you think. (See “How We Found the Farm of Our Dreams,” below.)

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Pick up a copy of the local newspaper to look for advertisements from land brokers or for sales directly by owners. Take out a “land wanted” advertisement in the local paper, and look for property auctions. Beware, though: Auctioned properties are often sold “as is.” Always thoroughly research a property before making an offer.

In the slumping real estate market, foreclosures are increasing, and some rural areas have been hit especially hard. Both lenders and the federal government are eager to unload properties, sometimes atbargain prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains a Web site where buyers can search state-by-state for properties. Foreclosure buyers also can ask lenders about available real estate.

Land given away by the U.S. government under the 1862 Homestead Act is long gone, but the federal government does occasionally sell public land. Homesteaders will be most interested in public land, most of which is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in the 11 Western states. The downside is that the agency must sell the land at no less than fair market value. And most plots are located in areas short on water or with poor soils that have little agricultural potential. Your best source for finding federal land is the local BLM office with jurisdiction over the area you’re interested in. State land programs also occasionally sell land.

Abandoned farms may provide another enticing and affordable land option. But do your homework first: Seltzer cautions that owners often walk away from abandoned farms because of water problems or marginal soil. But if income from farming isn’t your goal, poor soil may not be a huge concern. Frequently, a small plot of poor soil can be improved with proper management so that it will serve nicely as a garden. If your goals are primarily agricultural, soil surveys are a handy tool to assess the fertility of soil.

Buying a parcel of land with friends also can be a cost-saving option if everyone shares the same long-term objectives for the property and there’s a written agreement detailing a way for a partner to exit if the need arises. “Such arrangements work where they’ve created a legal document to satisfy not only lenders but future purchasers,” GeRue says. Before you buy a property with others, you’ll want to check local zoning ordinances if you plan to subdivide it legally, and determine any restrictions that may apply.

Ask the Right Questions

Of course, it’s wise to approach any land purchase thoughtfully, and GeRue cautions buyers to look beyond the appeal of cost alone. “Those who focus on low-cost land risk shortchanging their lives,” GeRue says.

Hollis agrees, noting that some people who initially accepted the offer of free land backed out after they realized the challenges and costs of building — and living — in rural Alaska.

GeRue suggests that buyers first make a list of criteria to guide them in their decisions. Are you planning to farm the land, and if so, is the plot large enough, and is the soil fertile? Are there any signs of contamination, wetlands or flooding? A quick search of a property’s environmental history through Web sites such as Environmental Data Resources will help you avoid potentially contaminated well water, leaking underground tanks and other potential hazards.

Think about what you’d like from a community. Is the rural life right for you? How will you support yourself? While today’s small towns have better access than ever before to cable, cell phone and high-speed Internet service (making more room for work-at-home careers), rural life can be isolating at times. You might want to consider the commuting distance to larger communities, where jobs and amenities may be more available.

More isolated rural areas may also lack services to support you or your family. Will being near a quality hospital be important to you? Will your children be attending local schools?

Thorough research is the best guarantee of purchasing land that fits your needs. The Web sites (below) will get you off to a good start. Is your perfect farm off the market? Read one gardener's innovative way to find the perfect homestead land in How We Found the Perfect Farm Real Estate.

Top 10 Tips for Finding Your Affordable Homestead

Make a list of your required criteria, along with what you’d like but isn’t necessary.

Focus on a particular county or region where you’ll begin your search.

Resources

Nationwide Real Estate

Cities Offering Free Land

Dave Wortman is a writer with a love for the land and the West’s wide-open spaces. His work has appeared in Sierra, High Country News and other publications.

Share your thoughts.

landdepot

11/7/2015 2:47:01 AM

I am 30 years and working for 10 years and one of my future plan before I retired is to buy my own business property not for me for my kids..
http://landdepot.ca/

jacob solomon

2/19/2012 6:03:37 PM

Nice list of online land purchase resources, but you've missed one which is also quite good - http://www.governmentauction.com .

prospective homesteader

8/20/2009 9:23:59 AM

After contemplating the comment by S.L. Burwell, I would like to submit to readers a possible remedy for the problem of aging and waning strength. In times past, it was not strange to live in the same place with one's parents, grandparents, other relatives, or even helping hands. As the older generation waned, the stronger generation gradually took over the responsibilities of the home. I believe that investing in deep, close, and lasting relationships especially with one's own offspring pays off manifold in the later years of a person's life. Society today is so impersonal, much to our detriment. I appreciated this article very much and found it full of practical help.

s.l. burwell

8/14/2009 8:06:57 AM

I wanted to weigh in on the article in the Guide to Country Skills "Finding Your Perfect Country Property." We were able to buy a small farm as 20 somethings and move back to the land. Thirty some years later, having had my chickens, horses, cows, pigs and all other manner of critters, we have pared down to what is on about two acres around our home. My advice to add to this article is think for the long term: Can you picture yourself older and perhaps with physicial or health problems that may hinder your giving full attention to the needs of your purchase? While we have no regrets, we have found our older bodies are not quite as able to keep up with everything that we would like to. Paring down has worked for us and we enjoy the country setting that we live in. Will we sell down the road? Perhaps: That country home further south beckons as a retirement dream. Keep up the good work, M.E.N., I enjoy reading the magazine and the web content.

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